VENTURE CAPITAL POST

Google Ventures released its year-end data and, and TechCrunch noted that it has done tremendously, quieting critics who had said that the investment arm of Google Inc had not secured any major deals like with Twitter and Pinterest.

San Francisco-based smart kitchen company The Orange Chef has received $1.2 million in funding from Google Ventures and Sparklabs Global Ventures to develop more connected kitchen devices.

Enterprise cloud file storage hybrid Egnyte received $29.5 million in Series D funding to introduce itself to other international markets and to gain recognition in international markets like its rivals Box and Dropbox.

Programming toy robot maker Play-i raised USD1.4 million from investors all over the world via its crowdfunding campaign on its website that lasted 31 days.

Former Square Wallet technical lead David Byttow and former Google product manager Chrys Bader-Wechseler are raising USD1.2 million in seed funding for their new startup called Secret.

Cleaning services provider Homejoy said that it had raised USD38 million in new capital from its Series A and Series B funding rounds, which saw the participation of Google Ventures, Redpoint Ventures, Max Levchin, First Round Capital, Oliver Jung, and Mike Hirshland.

Google Ventures-backed search-advertising startup Trada was said to have laid off most of its staff. An unnamed source said that the company might be anticipating a sale or shutdown.

San Francisco-based payment and open currency startup Ripple Labs raised USD3.5 million in a funding round to be used for the development of its digital currency network.

San Francisco-based alternative payday loans startup LendUp raised USD14 million in its first venture round led by Google Ventures to lend money to people with poor credit.

Building Robotics, an Oakland, Ca.-based company, creates intelligent software systems for offices.

After seven months since its launch, Sold announced it had been purchased by Dropbox for USD1.2 million.

Venture capitalists pondered on costs for developing drones for commercial uses.

The third quarter report of Dow Jones Venture Source showed a rise in venture capital activity in the technology sector.

Google Ventures led the Series B funding round for software firm Enterproid, of which the round raised USD12 million.

Uber, a startup company, confirmed that it had raise a total of USD258 million from Google Ventures and TPG and had taken several new members into its Board of Directors.